Sonoma could be 2012 NASCAR finale for R. Gordon

By JENNA FRYERThe Associated Press

Sunday

Jun 24, 2012 at 9:05 AM

SONOMA, Calif. - Robby Gordon believes Sunday's race at Sonoma will be his last one of the NASCAR season.

Gordon has no sponsorship lined up beyond this week. He's raced only twice this season -- the Daytona 500 and at Phoenix. After failing to qualify at Las Vegas and California, Gordon has not attempted to make a NASCAR race since March.

Gordon will start 34th at Sonoma, where in 2003 he picked up one of his three career victories. He has no plans to race this summer at Watkins Glen, where he also won in 2003.

"I'd love to go to Watkins Glen, but I don't have a sponsor right now to go there," Gordon said. "So as we sit here right now, there's nothing on the table for anything until next season."

Gordon said he has money lined up for two races in both 2013 and 2014, but he has no intention of attempting to run a full Sprint Cup Series schedule again unless a funding package -- perhaps from manufacturer Dodge -- comes through.

Without that, a five- to 10-race schedule is probably his most realistic option. But even if that doesn't come through, he doesn't want to walk away completely away. He says NASCAR keeps him humble.

"I love NASCAR. But I come here and get ... kicked, which is good for me because I'm not a good loser," he said. "I've kind of been out of sight, out of mind."

Gordon is still racing, though, and working to grow his Speed Energy drink. He's starting a stadium truck series that he plans to have running in 2013, and Gordon is building all the trucks that will compete.

Gordon is trying to put together a 10-race schedule for the series, and says he already has contracts for events in Los Angeles and San Diego. Gordon wants to add stops in Texas, Long Beach and Las Vegas. He said he's hired USAC to officiate the races.

Piquet Jr. wins Nationwide race at Road America

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. -- Nelson Piquet Jr. held the lead on a late restart, then pulled away from the rest of the field Saturday to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America.

The Brazilian, a former Formula One driver and the son of three-time F1 champion Nelson Sr., became a winner in his third career Nationwide start after starting the race from pole position. Piquet's extensive road racing experience paid off at the four-mile, 14-turn road course that winds through the hills of central Wisconsin.